National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health | www.cancer.gov

NCI Home
Cancer Topics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Statistics
Research & Funding
News
About NCI
Glossary of Cancer Statistics



Glossary of Cancer Statistics






Incidence






Mortality






Survival






Prevalence






Lifetime Risk



Page Options
Print This Page
Print This Document
View Entire Document
E-Mail This Document
Quick Links
Director's Corner

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

NCI Drug Dictionary

Funding Opportunities

NCI Publications

Advisory Boards and Groups

Science Serving People

Español
NCI Highlights
Report to Nation Finds Declines in Cancer Incidence, Death Rates

Cancer Trends Progress Report: 2007 Update

Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2005

Past Highlights
Cancer Survival Statistics

Cancer survival statistics are typically expressed as the proportion of patients alive at some point subsequent to the diagnosis of their cancer. Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. Observed survival is the actual percentage of patients still alive at some specified time after diagnosis of cancer. Survival considers deaths from all causes, cancer or otherwise. Overview of Population-based Cancer Survival Statistics contains a more detailed description and information on the interpretation of survival statistics.

Find published reports and research tools for calculating Survival Statistics.

Back to Top

< Previous Section  |  Next Section >


A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov